Chicago Architecture River Cruise rated number 2 on the planet

the urban politician · #1 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Chicago Architecture River Cruise Named Best Experience in US: TripAdvisor

The Chicago Architecture River Cruise wasn't just the best in the country, it was also one of the best in the world
By Ana Ramos

One of the most visited attractions in the world can be found floating on Chicago’s river.

Travel website TripAdvisor listed the Chicago Architecture River Cruise as the no. 1 pick in its 10 best "Travelers’ Choice Awards for Experiences" in the U.S. The ranking is based on traveler reviews of more than 200,000 experiences over the last year, according to TripAdvisor.

The Chicago Architecture River Cruise wasn't just the best in the country, it was also one of the best in the world, coming in second behind only the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Tour.

“With more than 200,000 experiences on our sites, these winners are in an extremely competitive field and represent the best-of-the-best, according to travelers themselves," TripAdvisor spokesperson Laurel Greatrix said in a statement.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/worth-t...ripadvisor-travel-best-us-511531762.html

the urban politician · #2 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 6:26 PM**

There are 2 forumers here who actually are tour guides for these cruises, maybe that's why it's so good. Nobody gives an architecture tour like a SSP forumer

Steely Dan · #3 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 6:51 PM**

the man-made canyons of the chicago river are quite spectacular.

there's a reason they've become such a popular tourist attraction.

Wolf Point East, December 5, 2018 by YoChicago, on Flickr

River traffic. by Brian Kay, on Flickr

Clouds Rolling In by Anthony Presley, on Flickr

Chicago River from 300 South Riverside Plaza by Paul Jonusaitis, on Flickr

JManc · #4 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 6:53 PM**

I would LOVE to do that the next time I am there. I knew about the land based architecture tours around Chicago but not this.

Steely Dan · #5 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

I would LOVE to do that the next time I am there.

you ABSOLUTELY should!

no skyscraper nerd should visit chicago without taking a cruise on an architectural river tour.

hell, even non-skyscraper nerds find the experience to be very well worth it, hence the high ranking in this contest.

it's one of the most fantastic ways to view the city's towers. just floating down the river with a cold beer in hand while a docent drops some archi-knowledge on you; not a bad way to take in chicago.

niwell · #6 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 7:09 PM**

I did it 4 or 5 years ago and totally worth it, the views are spectacular and the guide we had was incredibly knowledgeable. This being said as someone who generally eschews tours and overly "touristy" things.

Oh, and they served pretty decent craft beer on board! Not that anyone needs another excuse to have drinks in Chicago...

Centropolis · #7 Posted **Jun 20, 2019, 7:28 PM**

my 18th birthday wish/party was a choo choo train to chicago and the architecture cruise. CLASSIC.

Ant131531 · #8 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 3:46 AM**

I did the boat cruise that goes out on the Lake, but not the one that goes into downtown. Still loved it. Chicago is an absolutely stunning city and it doesn't need natural features to elevate it. Me and my parents both said it's far more beautiful than NYC(though still feel NYC is the more fun and exciting city to visit).

xzmattzx · #9 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 1:58 PM**

Just curious, what cities/areas have boat tours (meaning, architectural tours), and how would you all rank them?

I've done boat tours in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Buffalo (but Buffalo was a long time ago). I would rank them Chicago #1 by far, Milwaukee #2, and Buffalo #3.

I am pretty sure that New York City and Boston have boat tours, but I have never done them. I'm not sure if they do architectural boat tours. I am sure there are booze cruises in these cities. I know there are booze cruises in Philadelphia.

Steely Dan · #10 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 2:06 PM**

^ i went on a great boat tour of pittsburgh a couple years ago.

it wasn't quite as heavy on the architecture spiel as some of the chicago ones, but it was a very pleasant 1-hour cruise around the rivers of pittsburgh (with some local history and lore) affording spectacular views of the skyline, bridges, and bluffs.

and they served beer, so i highly recommend it!

here's a link to the pittsburgh boat tour i took: https://www.gatewayclipper.com/

i've also done the circle line tour in NYC, which is like a 3 hour cruise that completely circumnavigates manhattan. super cool, but it is long. fortunately, that's not a problem for us skyscraper nerds who can never get enough of the mighty NYC!

for as often as i've been there, i've oddly never done a milwaukee river/lake cruise, but that's because i've kayaked up there enough to know what the experience would be like.

xzmattzx · #11 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 2:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i've also done the circle line tour in NYC, which is like a 3 hour cruise that completely circumnavigates manhattan. super cool, but it is long. fortunately, that's not a problem for us skyscraper nerds who can never get enough of the mighty NYC!

I've done a boat tour circumnavigating Grand Island and Navy Island in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. I did the whole "tour" on water skis! My arms were really tired after that!

uaarkson · #12 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 3:05 PM**

I did this on a red red RED late summer afternoon in 2006, with the city lights coming to life toward the end of the tour. I'll never forget it.

the urban politician · #13 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 4:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

I am pretty sure that New York City and Boston have boat tours, but I have never done them. I'm not sure if they do architectural boat tours. I am sure there are booze cruises in these cities. I know there are booze cruises in Philadelphia.

I've done the Manhattan cruise circumventing Manhattan a few times, and I've even done that same tour on a tiny motor boat with my cousin (even more fun!). We had lunch on a tiny boat while floating right in front of the Statue of Liberty--all without having to pay anybody a penny.

I've also done the Boston Duck Tour, which is a good time. No alcohol on that one, though...

mrnyc · #14 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 4:19 PM**

^ yep i have done the same and nothing beats being out on your own in a boat along the hudson or east river.

don't forget in ny you can get just as good of tours on the water taxi ferries as on the circle line or bateaux or whatever else cruises. they all have their charms, but debateably the long east river route from soundview in the bronx to wall st is the most impressive.

i'm glad this thread and topic came up because i don't think people, locals and tourists alike, take as much advantage of water views as they could.

M II A II R II K · #15 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 4:35 PM**

I've been on it.

So I guess this cruise is more popular than that historic Mississippi river cruise then.

woodrow · #16 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 4:45 PM**

The most knowledgeable guides are on the Chicago Architecture Centers boats - http://www.architecture.org/. At least they used to be. Back in the old days it was them, and then a real drop off in quality. Not that there weren't good guides on the other boats, but the consistency was iffy.

The CAC was/is very rigorous about knowledge and training, so you shouldn't get a bad guide. I say this as a a person who has issues with the CAC (still bummed they dumped the Glessner House and moved from a more CBD location).

bnk · #17 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 4:58 PM**

I posted this last year in a Show us your ferries, water taxies thread last year.

The longer and more informative is the guided tour. If you want to do it again much cheaper with no information you could do the all day pass for the water taxis that go faster but the rides are unlimited. Goes Down to Chinatown too.

Chicago water Taxis

There is not one formal type of taxis they come in all sizes and there is competition From Shorline but Chicago Water Taxi is the busiest.

http://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/

Pretty cheap too.

All Day Pass
$9.00

31 Day Pass
$60.00

Ten Ride
$20.00

One Way Ticket
$5.00

Vlajos · #18 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 7:31 PM**

Had lunch on the riverwalk today, which was packed and the amount of tour boats criss crossing the river was crazy. They may have to install traffic lights.

Handro · #19 Posted **Jun 21, 2019, 7:46 PM**

Yea river walk is beautiful and serves exactly the people it's meant to serve--office workers between 8am-7pm on weekdays and tourists.

Nouvellecosse · #20 Posted **Jun 22, 2019, 1:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

I did the boat cruise that goes out on the Lake, but not the one that goes into downtown. Still loved it. Chicago is an absolutely stunning city and it doesn't need natural features to elevate it. Me and my parents both said it's far more beautiful than NYC(though still feel NYC is the more fun and exciting city to visit).

Isn't the whole reason the topic of this thread is even possible is because the city is elevated by its natural features? I mean, it's pretty hard to have a popular architecture river cruise without a river. And isn't the lakefront also kind of important in terms of Chicago's beauty?